EPA 749-F-94-019a
CHEMICAL SUMMARY FOR 2-METHOXYETHANOL
prepared by
OFFICE OF POLLUTION PREVENTION AND TOXICS
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
August 1994
This summary is based on information retrieved from a systematic
search limited to secondary sources (see Appendix A). These sources
include online databases, unpublished EPA information, government
publications, review documents, and standard reference materials. No
attempt has been made to verify information in these databases and
secondary sources.
I. CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
The chemical identity and physical/chemical properties of
2-methoxyethanol are summarized in Table 1.
TABLE 1. CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND CHEMICAL/PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES OF 2-METHOXYETHANOL
__________________________________________________________________________
Characteristic/
Property Data Reference
__________________________________________________________________________
CAS No. 109-86-4
Common Synonyms EGMME; ethylene glycol
monomethyl ether; Methyl
Cellosolve Solvent;
Dowanol
EM Glycol Ether Rowe and Wolf 1982
Molecular Formula C3H8O2
Chemical Structure CH3OCH2CH2OH
Physical State liquid @ 20øC, colorless U.S. Air Force 1989
Molecular Weight 76.09 Budavari et al. 1989
Melting Point -85.00øC U.S. Air Force 1989
Boiling Point 124.43øC @ 760 mm Hg Budavari et al. 1989
Water Solubility miscible in all
proportions U.S. Air Force 1989
Density 0.9746 g/mL @ 20øC U.S. Air Force 1989
Vapor Density (air=1) 2.6 Rowe and Wolf 1982
KOC 9 CHEMFATE 1994
Log KOW -0.77 CHEMFATE 1994
Vapor Pressure 9.5 mm HG at 25øC CHEMFATE 1994
Reactivity in air, forms explosive
peroxides HSDB 1994
Flash Point 115øF Budavari et al. 1989
Henry's Law Constant 8.1 x 10-8 atm m3/mole
at 25øC CHEMFATE 1994
Fish Bioconcentration
Factor <1 (estimated) CHEMFATE 1994
Odor Threshold 60 ppm (in air) U.S. Air Force 1989
Conversion Factors 1 ppm ÷ 3.11 mg/m3
1 mg/m3 ÷ 0.32 ppm U.S. Air Force 1989
___________________________________________________________________________
II. PRODUCTION, USE, AND TRENDS
A. Production
2-Methoxyethanol is produced by three companies in the United States:
Olin Corp., Oxy Petrochemicals, and Union Carbide. In 1985, an
estimated 37.8 million kilograms (83.2 million pounds) of 2-methoxy-
ethanol were produced in the United States. During that same year
233,000 kilograms were imported, and 11.7 million kilograms were
exported. Although production figures for 1992 are not reported,
only 13 million kilograms of 2-methoxyethanol were sold in the US,
suggesting that production has fallen (HSDB 1994; U.S. International
Trade Commission 1994).
B. Use
2-Methoxyethanol is used primarily as a jet fuel de-icer. It is also
used as a solvent for cellulose acetate; resins (particularly in the
electronics industry); some alcohol soluble dyes; and in quick-drying
varnishes, enamels, nail polishes, and wood stains. Small amounts
are
also used as perfume fixatives and in the manufacture of photographic
film. Table 2 shows the estimated 1983 US end-use pattern for
2-methoxyethanol; more recent information is not available to EPA.
TABLE 2. ESTIMATED 1983 US END-USE PATTERN OF 2-METHOXYETHANOL
__________________________________________________________________________
Use of 2-Methoxyethanol (Typical Standard Percentage of U.S.
Industrial Classification (SIC) Code) 2-Methoxyethanol Use
(see end note 1)
__________________________________________________________________________
Jet fuel de-icer (production,
SIC 2899; use, SIC 45) 60%
Coatings solvent (production, SIC 2851; used
in a variety of SIC codes) 15%
Solvents and intermediates (production, SIC
2869; use, SIC 2869) 25%
__________________________________________________________________________
Source: Mannsville 1983.
C. Trends
Consumption of 2-methoxyethanol has been falling during the late
1980s and early 1990s. Its use as a solvent has declined, and
its use as a jet fuel de-icer is also declining.
III. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
A. Environmental Release
No information was found in the secondary sources searched to
indicate that 2-methoxyethanol occurs naturally. The chemical is
released to the environment in emissions from facilities
manufacturing and using it and from the deposition of products
containing the chemical in landfills (U.S. EPA 1986). The chemical
was tentatively identified in advanced waste treatment water from
Pomona, CA, and in drinking water from New Orleans, LA (U.S.
EPA 1986).
In 1992, environmental releases of the chemical, as reported to
the Toxic Chemical Release Inventory by certain types of U.S.
industries, totaled about 1.58 million pounds, including 1.42
million pounds to the atmosphere; 165,535 pounds to surface water;
and 4 pounds to land (TRI92 1994).
B. Transport
The vapor pressure of 9.5 mm Hg at 25øC and the Henry's Law
Constant of 8.1 x 10-8 atm m3/mole at 25øC (CHEMFATE 1994) suggest
that volatilization of 2-methoxyethanol from surface waters would
be
minimal. 2-Methoxyethanol released to the atmosphere may be
partially removed by wet deposition (U.S. EPA 1986).
2-Methoxyethanol is expected to be highly mobile in the soil/
groundwater system (U.S. Air Force 1989). The KOC value suggests
that the potential for the sorption of 2-methoxyethanol to soil
would be low. Estimates for an unsaturated topsoil model indicate
that 1.5% of the chemical would sorb onto soil particles, 98.5%
would partition to the mobile soil-water phase, and 0.0001% would
be in the gas phase; loss from the soil/groundwater system by
volatilization would be minor. In saturated, deep soils
containing no soil air and little organic material, almost all
of the 2-methoxyethanol would be expected to be present in the
soil-water phase and available for transport in groundwater
(U.S. Air Force 1989).
C. Transformation/Persistence
1. Air - If released to air, 2-methoxyethanol reacts with hydroxyl
radicals with a half-life of about 18 hours, indicating that
significant removal would take place by this process (U.S. EPA
1986).
2. Soil - In soil/groundwater systems, biodegradation is probably
minimal, except for areas of acclimated bacterial content, such
as in landfills (U.S. Air Force 1989).
3. Water - No information is available for the biodegradation of
2-methoxyethanol under natural aquatic environmental conditions.
Experimental studies demonstrated that the chemical was
susceptible to biodegradation by activated sludge and acclimated
sewage seed, with 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5) test
values, ranging from 7% to 65% (U.S. Air Force 1989).
4. Biota - The low bioconcentration factor (0.15) and Log KOW
(0.77) (CHEMFATE 1994) for 2-methoxyethanol suggest a low
potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.
IV. HEALTH EFFECTS
A. Pharmacokinetics
1. Absorption - Signs of systemic toxicity that have appeared in
animals following administration of 2-methoxyethanol orally,
by the skin, or by inhalation indicate that the chemical is
absorbed by these routes (U.S. EPA 1986). Rats, given the
chemical orally, absorbed 90% of a radioactive dose
(U.S. EPA 1986). Excretion data following oral exposure
(see section A.4) and the demonstration of the in vitro
absorption of 2-methoxyethanol across isolated human abdominal
epidermis (at a rate of 2.82 mg/cm3/hour) further suggest
absorption by these routes (U.S. EPA 1986).
2. Distribution - One hour after administration of radiolabeled
2-methoxyethanol to rats and mice by an unspecified route,
the radioactivity was equally distributed in the brain,
plasma,
lung and liver (U.S. EPA 1986). Forty-eight hours after
oral administration of 662 mg/kg 14C-2-methoxyethanol, the
highest amount of radioactivity occurred in the blood,
followed by liver, kidney, spleen, testes, fat, and thymus.
Proposed target organs of 2-methoxyethanol toxicity, the
testes, thymus and spleen, retained considerably less
radioactivity than other organs, suggesting that the chemical
does not accumulate in these organs (U.S. EPA 1986). Studies
in pregnant rats and mice show that radioactivity from radio-
labeled 2-methoxyethanol or metabolites from the unlabeled
compound appeared in the placenta and yolk sac and
accumulated to some extent in fetal tissues, particularly
those with high metabolic rates (U.S. EPA 1986).
3. Metabolism - The results of several studies indicate that
2-methoxyethanol is oxidized by an alcohol dehydrogenase,
via the formation of an aldehyde, to methoxyacetic acid,
which is either excreted in the urine or further metabolized
to the corresponding glycine conjugate or to carbon dioxide
(U.S. EPA 1986). Following i.p. administration of 250 mg/kg
14C-2-methoxyethanol to male rats, the half-life for the
disappearance of 2-methoxyethanol from plasma was 0.6 hours,
whereas the half-life for the clearance of radioactivity from
plasma was 19.7 hours. One study demonstrated that,
following a single oral dose of 14C-2-methoxyethanol,
urinary radioactivity consisted of 73.1% methoxyacetic acid,
14.8% 2-methoxyethanol, and 8.1% of an unidentified
metabolite (U.S. EPA 1986).
4. Excretion - Three studies in which male rats received oral
or intraperitoneal doses of 14C-2-methoxyethanol provided
similar results for excretion patterns, with 55-70% of the
radioactivity appearing in the urine after a 48-hour period
(U.S. EPA 1986). In one study, animals given 76 mg/kg of the
chemical excreted 54.3, 2.7, and 12.2% of the dose in the
urine, feces and expired air, respectively (U.S. EPA 1986).
B. Acute Effects
Acute oral exposure to high levels of 2-methoxyethanol adversely
affects the hematological, the hepatic, and the renal systems in
humans. Exposure to liquid 2-methoxyethanol can damage the eye.
1. Humans - A human fatality occurred following the ingestion of
~240 mL (234 g; 3.34 g/kg) 2-methoxyethanol. Autopsy revealed
marked fatty degeneration of the liver, severe degeneration of
the kidney tubules, moderate hemorrhagic gastritis, and slight
congestion of the lungs (U.S. EPA 1986). Following the ingestion
of 100 mL (97 g; 1.4 g/kg) of 2-methoxyethanol, two individuals
exhibited acidosis. One of the two developed oxaluria, and
both exhibited nervous system effects (U.S. EPA 1986), similar
to those described in section IV.G. An individual experienced
eye irritation, resulting from exposure to 2-methoxyethanol;
complete recovery occurred within 48 hours after exposure
(Rowe and Wolf 1982). The chemical is not highly irritating to
the skin (HSDB 1994).
2. Animals - Oral LD50 values for animals include: 2.46-3.4 g/kg
for rats; 2.8 g/kg for mice; 0.89 g/kg for rabbits; and 0.95
g/kg for guinea pigs (U.S. EPA 1986). The dermal LD50 for
skin absorption by rabbits is 1.29 g/kg, and the inhalation
LC50 for mice exposed for 7 hours is 1480 ppm (Rowe and Wolf
1982).
Doses that produce lethality in some rats also cause narcosis,
kidney damage, liver damage, and gastrointestinal irritation
(U.S. EPA 1986). 2-Methoxyethanol introduced into the eyes of
rabbits produced immediate pain; conjunctival irritation; and
slight transitory cloudiness of the cornea, which cleared within
24 hours (HSDB 1994).
C. Subchronic/Chronic Effects
Human case studies and laboratory studies in animals indicate that
the hematological and neurological systems are targets for the
subchronic/chronic toxicity of high doses of 2-methoxyethanol. The
effects observed in humans were reversible in most cases. See
sections IV.G and IV.F for discussions of neurological and
developmental/reproductive effects, respectively.
1. Humans - Hematological effects, such as anemia and granulopenia,
were observed in workers exposed for up to 7 months to 61-3960
ppm (190 to 12,324 mg/m3) 2-methoxyethanol used as a printing
solvent. The workers recovered when the concentrations were
reduced, due to improved plant hygiene, to about 20 ppm (U.S.
EPA 1994). The concentration of 190 mg/m3 is roughly
equivalent to the intake of 27 mg/kg over 8 hours (see end note
2)
or 3780 mg/kg for 7 months.
One worker experienced reversible asymptomatic hematological
effects following skin and inhalation exposure to 35 ppm (109
mg/m3) 2-methoxyethanol for 1 to 1.5 years (U.S. EPA 1994). The
worker was also exposed to lower concentrations of other
chemicals, including methyl ethyl ketone a behavioral toxicant
in humans at higher concentrations (U.S. EPA 1994).
2. Animals - Sprague Dawley rats (10/sex/dose) and New Zealand
white rabbits (5/sex/dose) were exposed to 0, 30, 100, or
300 ppm (93, 311, or 934 mg/m3) 2-methoxyethanol 6 h/day, 5
days/week for 13 weeks (U.S. EPA 1994). At 300 ppm, the male
and female rats exhibited decreased body weights; altered
hematological and clinical chemistry parameters; atrophy of
lymphoid tissue; decreased liver weight; and altered clinical
chemistry parameters. Female rats exposed to 100 ppm also had
decreased body weights. The rabbits exposed to 300 ppm
exhibited
decreased body and thymus weights; hematological changes; and
lymphoid tissue atrophy. Reproductive effects observed in this
study are described in section IV.F.2.
A study of the hematopoietic effects of 2-methoxyethanol
revealed that male F344 rats treated orally with 100 or 500
mg/kg/day for 4 consecutive days had dose-related reductions
in relative kidney, spleen and thymus weights. At the high dose
only, the animals had hemorrhagic bone marrow and thinning of
the sinus endothelial cells, inhibition of splenic extra-
medullary hematopoiesis; normocytic anemia; and leukopenia
(U.S. EPA 1986). With the exception of the leukopenia, all of
these parameters returned to normal values during a 22 day
recovery period.
B6C3F1 mice exhibited a 48% reduction in thymus weights
following oral administration (gavage) of 2-methoxyethanol or
its major metabolite, methoxyacetic acid, at doses of 500 or
1000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. A 250 mg/kg dose did not produce
this effect and none of the doses produced alterations in immune
function or host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes
(U.S. EPA 1986).
Wistar rats inhaled 0, 100, or 300 ppm (0, 311, or 934 mg/m3)
6 h/day for 10 consecutive days (U.S. EPA 1986). In addition
to reproductive and testicular effects (see section IV.F.2),
the investigators observed reductions in sizes of the thymus
glands in 9/10 rats, and reductions in white blood cell count,
red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and
mean corpuscular hemoglobin in rats exposed to 300 ppm. There
were no such effects at 100 ppm.
D. Carcinogenicity
1. Humans - No information was found in the secondary sources
searched to indicate that 2-methoxyethanol is carcinogenic to
humans.
2. Animals - No information was found in the secondary sources
searched to indicate that 2-methoxyethanol is carcinogenic to
animals.
E. Genotoxicity
Available information indicates that 2-methoxyethanol is not
genotoxic. 2-Methoxyethanol was negative for: mutagenicity in
Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA98, and TA100,
both with and without metabolic activation, and in the yeast,
Schizosaccharomyces pombe; unscheduled DNA synthesis in human
embryo fibroblasts; chromosome aberrations in the bone marrow of
rats exposed to 25 ppm, 7 h/day for 1 or 5 days; and sex-linked
recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster (U.S. Air
Force 1989). The results of assays for the dominant lethal effects
of 2-methoxyethanol in rodents have been negative or inconclusive
(U.S. Air Force 1989).
F. Developmental/Reproductive Toxicity
2-Methoxyethanol is a potent developmental and reproductive system
toxicant. Developmental effects, including malformations, have
been observed in mice, rats, and rabbits exposed to
2-methoxyethanol. These effects occur at low to moderate doses,
indicating that the fetus is especially sensitive to the adverse
effects of the chemical. Testicular effects have been observed in
animals exposed to 2-methoxyethanol by inhalation as well as by
the oral route. This appears to result from injury to the
premeiotic and meiotic spermatocytes. EPA has derived an
inhalation reference concentration (RfC) (see end note 3)
of 0.2 mg/m3 for 2-methoxyethanol, based on adverse testicular
effects in animals.
1. Humans - One study examined the possibility of reproductive
toxicity in workers exposed to 2-methoxyethanol concentrations
of either ó0.42 ppm (8-h TWA) in the production area or to 5.4
to 8.5 ppm (16.8 to 26.5 mg/m3) (2-hour TWA) in the packing and
distribution area. Area atmospheric levels (this was not
explained further) ranged between 4 and 20 ppm (12 and 62
mg/m3). The workers were also exposed to other chemicals.
There were no effects on hematological parameters, hormone
levels, or sperm effects in the exposed workers, compared with
unexposed controls (U.S. EPA 1994).
2. Animals - 2-Methoxyethanol is a potent male reproductive
toxicant in mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs (NTP
1993). Sprague-Dawley rats (10/sex/dose) and New Zealand white
rabbits (5/sex/dose) were exposed by inhalation to 0, 30, 100,
or 300 ppm (93, 311, or 934 mg/m3) 2-methoxyethanol 6 h/day,
5 days/week for 13 weeks (U.S. EPA 1994). At 300 ppm, the male
rats exhibited decreased testicular weights, flaccid testes,
and moderate to severe degeneration of the germinal epithelium
in the seminiferous tubules ppm; these effects were not seen at
30 or 100 ppm. The concentration of 100 ppm is roughly
equivalent to 33 mg/kg/day for a seventy kilogram person
The rabbits exposed to 300 ppm also exhibited flaccid testes.
Testicular weights were decreased in a dose-dependent manner;
the incidence of degenerative changes in the germinal
epithelium of the testes increased in a dose-dependent
manner. Non-reproductive effects observed in this study are
described in section IV.C.2. These two studies were the basis
for EPA's inhalation chronic RfC of 0.02 mg/m3 (U.S. EPA
1994). The LOAEL for the study was 100 ppm for testicular
effects and the NOAEL, 30 ppm (U.S. EPA 1994); this information
was used in the derivation of the RfC.
Male rats given 2000 to 10,000 ppm (70 to 800 mg/kg) 2-methoxy-
ethanol in the drinking water for 13 weeks exhibited a dose-
related degeneration of the seminiferous tubules (NTP 1993).
Acute exposure to 2-methoxyethanol, 600 ppm for four hours and
300 ppm for ten days, also resulted in testicular atrophy in
rats (USEPA 1994). In the rodent testes, the most sensitive
cells, following acute exposure to 2-methoxyethanol, appear to
be the premeiotic and meiotic spermatocytes (HSDB 1994).
Sprague-Dawley rats exposed by inhalation to higher concentra-
tions (50, 100, or 200 ppm, 7 hours/day on gestation days 7-15)
had increased resorptions compared with controls (30% increase
at
50 ppm, 50% at 100 ppm, and 100% at 200 ppm). The offspring in
all groups had reduced weights, rib and tail malformations, and
heart abnormalities (no other details were available)
(U.S EPA 1994). Another study demonstrated neurochemical
changes in the offspring of male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed
by inhalation to 25 ppm for 6 weeks prior to mating with
unexposed females and in the offspring of pregnant female rats
exposed during gestation days 7-13 or 14-20; exposures were for
7 h/day, 7 days/week. The offspring of the group exposed during
gestation days 7-13 also exhibited a significant difference in
avoidance conditioning, compared with controls.
2-Methoxyethanol is also a potent developmental toxicant.
Developmental effects have been observed in several species
exposed to 2-methoxyethanol. The rabbit appears to be somewhat
more sensitive to these effects than rats and mice. In one
study, pregnant New Zealand rabbits and Fischer rats were
exposed by inhalation on gestation days 6-18 and 6-15, respec-
tively, to 2-methoxyethanol concentrations of 0, 3, 10, or 50
ppm; Cf-1 mice were exposed on gestation days 6-15 to 0, 10, or
50 ppm. All exposures were for 6 hours/day (U.S. EPA 1994).
Maternal weight loss occurred in all species at 50 ppm. The
offspring of rats and mice exhibited no treatment-related
effects at ó10 ppm, but had increased incidences of minor
skeletal variations at 50 ppm. The offspring of the exposed
rabbits had an increased incidence of delayed ossification and
a dose-related decrease in body weight at 10 ppm and increased
incidences of malformations, minor skeletal variations and
resorptions, and decreased body weight at 50 ppm (experimental
details were not available) (U.S. EPA 1994).
G. Neurotoxicity
Neurological effects, observed in humans exposed to moderate to high
concentrations of 2-methoxyethanol, appear to be reversible.
Neurotoxic effects in animals may be related to demyelination.
1. Humans - Human case studies indicate that the nervous and
hematological systems are targets for the toxicity of 2-methoxy-
ethanol (U.S. EPA 1994). See section IV.C for hematological
effects. Neurological symptoms such as dizziness, fainting,
headache, weakness, and behavioral changes were observed in
workers exposed for up to 7 months to 61-3960 ppm (190 to
12,324 mg/m3) of 2-methoxyethanol used as a printing solvent.
The workers recovered when the concentrations were reduced, due
to improved plant hygiene, to about 20 ppm (U.S. EPA 1994).
Similar symptoms were reported for workers exposed to a solvent
mixture containing <3% 2-methoxyethanol, 74% isopropanol, and
<3% dimethyl phthalate. Atmospheric levels of 2-methoxyethanol
were at least 25-76 ppm (78-237 mg/m3).
One worker experienced reversible neurological symptoms following
skin and inhalation exposure to 35 ppm (109 mg/m3)
2-methoxyethanol for 1 to 1.5 years (U.S. EPA 1994). The worker
was also exposed to lower concentrations of other chemicals,
including methyl ethyl ketone, a behavioral toxicant in humans
at higher concentrations.
2. Animals - Rats inhaling 125 ppm (389 mg/m3) 2-methoxyethanol
4 h/day for 7 days exhibited a decrease in pole climbing response
that increased in severity with successive exposures (U.S. EPA
1986). Glial cells from Wistar rats exposed by inhalation to 50,
100, or 400 ppm (156, 311, or 1245 mg/m3), 6 h/day for 1 or
2 weeks showed significant increases in a number of biochemical
parameters. At 400 ppm, the animals exhibited partial hindlimb
paresis, decreased body weights, and enlarged spleens (U.S. EPA
1986). The author concluded that the central nervous system
lesions may be associated with demyelinations.
V. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
A. Toxicity to Aquatic Organisms
2-methoxyethanol has low acute toxicity to aquatic organisms;
reported toxicity values are greater than 100 mg/L. LC50 values
for fish include 17,400 mg/L (7 days) for Poecilia reticulata
(guppy); 15,520 mg/L (96 hours) for Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow
trout) fingerlings; >5,000 mg/L (24 hours) for Crassium auratus
(goldfish); and >10,000 mg/L (96 hours) Menidia beryllina (tidewater
silverside) (Verschueren 1983; U.S. EPA 1986). Twenty-four hour
LC50 values for Daphnia magna (water flea) and Artemia salina (brine
shrimp) are >10,000 mg/L; and the toxicity threshold values for the
inhibition of cell multiplication for various species of protozoa
are 1,715 mg/L for Entosiphon sulcatum, 2.2 mg/L for Chilomonas
paramecium; and >10,000 mg/L for Uronema parduczi (U.S. EPA 1986).
B. Toxicity to Terrestrial Organisms
No information was found in the available literature for terrestrial
mammals. The oral LD50 value in the rat (2.4-3.4 g/kg) and the
results of chronic studies in laboratory animals (section IV.C),
suggest that the chemical would not be acutely toxic to non-pregnant
terrestrial animals unless present in very high concentrations.
Exposure of pregnant laboratory animals to low to moderate doses of
the chemical resulted in developmental effects in the offspring; this
might also occur in nature.
C. Abiotic Effects
No information was found in the available literature for abiotic
effects of 2-methoxyethanol. According to the definition provided in
the Federal Register (1992), 2-methoxyethanol is a volatile organic
carbon (VOC) substance. As a VOC, 2-methoxyethanol can contribute to
the formation of photochemical smog in the presence of other VOCs.
VI. EPA/OTHER FEDERAL/OTHER GROUP ACTIVITY
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 list 2-methoxyethanol as a
hazardous air pollutant. Occupational exposure to 2-methoxyethanol is
regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The
permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 25 parts per million parts of air
(ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) (29 CFR 1910.1000).
OSHA has added a skin notation to its PEL for 2-methoxyethanol,
indicating that workplace dermal exposure should be controlled as well.
Federal agencies and other groups that can provide additional
information on 2-methoxyethanol are listed in Tables 3 and 4.
TABLE 3. EPA OFFICES AND CONTACT NUMBERS
FOR INFORMATION ON 2-METHOXYETHANOL
________________________________________________________________________
EPA OFFICE LAW PHONE NUMBER
________________________________________________________________________
Pollution Prevention Toxic Substances Control Act
& Toxics (Sec. 8E) (202) 554-1404
Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
Regulations (Sec. 313) (800) 424-9346
Toxics Release Inventory data (202) 260-1531
Air Clean Air Act (919) 541-0888
___________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 4. OTHER FEDERAL OFFICES/OTHER GROUP CONTACT
NUMBERS FOR INFORMATION ON 2-METHOXYETHANOL
___________________________________________________________________________
Other Agency/Department/Group Contact Number
________________________________________________________________________
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
(Recommended Exposure Limit: (see end note 4)
5 ppm; [skin]) (see end note 5) (513) 742-2020
Consumer Product Safety Commission (301) 504-0994
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (800) 356-4674
(Recommended Exposure Limit (see end note 4):
Lowest feasible concentration)
Occupational Safety & Health Administration Check local phone
(Permissible Exposure Limit (see end note 6): book for phone
25 ppm; [skin] see end note 5) number under
Department of Labor
__________________________________________________________________________
VI. END NOTES
1. Standard Industrial Classification code is the statistical
classification standard for all Federal economic statistics. The code
provides a convenient way to reference economic data on industries of
interest to the researcher. SIC codes presented here are not intended to
be an exhaustive listing; rather, the codes listed should provide an
indication of where a chemical may be most likely to be found in commerce.
2. Calculated by multiplying 190 mg/m3 by 0.143 (the standard occupational
8-hour breathing rate, 10 m3, divided by the assumed adult body weight,
70 kg, and assuming 100% absorption to obtain the dose in mg/kg
(U.S. EPA 1988).
3. The RfC is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of
magnitude) of the daily exposure level for the human population, including
sensitive subpopulations, that is likely to be without an appreciable
risk of deleterious effects during the time period of concern.
4. The ACGIH/NIOSH exposure limits are time-weighted average (TWA)
concentrations for an 8-hour workday (ACGIH) and up to a 10-hour workday
(NIOSH) during a 40-hour workweek.
5. A [skin] notation indicates that air sampling is not sufficient to
accurately quantitate exposure. Measures to prevent significant cutaneous
absorption may be required.
6. The OSHA exposure limits are time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations
that must not be exceeded during any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour
workweek.
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Data Bases. Syracuse Research Corporation, Syracuse, NY. Retrieved
8/15/94.
Federal Register. 1992. Part 51 - Requirements for Preparation,
Adoption, and Submittal of Implementation Plans. Fed. Reg. 57:3945.
HSDB. 1994. Hazardous Substances Data Bank. MEDLARS Online
Information Retrieval System, National Library of Medicine.
Mannsville. 1983. Chemical Product Synopsis, 2-Methoxyethanol.
Mannsville Chemical Products Corporation. January 1983.
NTP. 1994. National Toxicology Program. NTP Technical Report on
Toxicity Studies of Ethylene Glycol Ethers (2-Methoxyethanol,
2-Ethoxyethanol, 2-Butoxyethanol) Administered in Drinking Water
to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 mice.
NIH Publication 93-3349. National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle
Park, NC.
Rowe VK, Wolf MA. 1982. Derivatives of glycols. In: Clayton GD, Clayton
FE. 1981-1982. Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd ed.,
Vol. 2C. New York: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 3911-3919, 4047-4048.
TRI92. 1994. 1992 Toxic Release Inventory. Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics. U.S. EPA, Washington D.C. EPA 745-R-94-001.
U.S. EPA. 1994. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS) Online. Coversheet for 2-Methoxyethanol. Office
of Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH,
Retrieved 8/94.
U.S. EPA. 1988. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Methodology for
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